Roosters stars out of Titans NRL clash

If defence wins premierships, the Sydney Roosters have reason to be buoyant this NRL season.

The Roosters head into Sunday's clash with the Gold Coast with plenty of headaches after NSW stars Latrell Mitchell and James Tedesco were rested and with Cooper Cronk in doubt.

With Boyd Cordner sitting out the match after playing through a calf injury during State of Origin III, Dylan Napa out with a knee complaint and Victor Radley out through suspension, the Roosters were already down on key troops.

Cronk is in doubt for the CBus Super Stadium clash because his wife Tara Rushton is due to give birth in the next week, with back-up half Sean O'Sullivan travelling with the side to Queensland.

Coach Trent Robinson elected to give Mitchell and Tedesco the weekend off after taking part in Origin III just four days earlier.

The game shapes as a test of the Roosters' mettle without many of their attacking weapons, but there is little questioning their defensive resolve.

Heading into round 18, the Roosters are ranked first for almost every defensive category.

They sit first for points conceded (14.2 per games), tries conceded (2.1), linebreaks conceded (3.1) and are equal first for fewest missed tackles (21.9).